Tweed council to back down on ILS

Govt admits defeat on Swan Lake

THE State Government can’t stop the Gold Coast City Council turning Black Swan Lake into a turf club carpark.

Environment Minister Steven Miles ordered a review of the Species Management Program issued to the Gold Coast Turf Club but it found no changes were needed.

“The review confirmed that no high risk species — defined as threatened under State or Commonwealth environmental laws — are breeding or roosting at the lake,” Mr Miles said.

“But I hope the council reconsiders, because clearly this is a much loved area by locals who would prefer to see the black swans nesting in the wild than a dirty great carpark.”

Local Government Minister Mark Furner also weighed into the debate.

“While this is a council decision and there is no power for the State to intervene, I’m calling on Mayor Tate to listen to the community.” A LEADING Tweed councillor expects the Gold Coast Airport’s controversial Instrument Landing System will go ahead despite an 11th hour bid to stall it.

Councillors will meet at 4.30pm today where they are set to strike down a push to halt the flight path technology’s installation.

Concerns had been raised by residents over the environmental impact of the earthworks and whether they had been conducted on NSW Crown Land “over and above the footprint” of the approved 300m from Runway 14 as stated in the ILS Major Development Plan.

City leaders yesterday toured the airport site and will today hear from airport bosses before making a decision on their position. Cr Warren Polglase last night told the Bulletin he expected the ILS would go ahead. “I think it is a foregone conclusion that all of this will cease today,” he said.